Aerating agitator



March 19, 1940. J. MooREs AERATING AGITATOR Filed July 5. 193s 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Y BY - Ma'rch 19, 1940.

J. MOORES AERATING AGITATOR Filed July 5, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 v w96/ Moores INVENTOR Patented Mar. 19,1940

l UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE AERA'rmG AGITTon Joel Moores, Cincinnati, Ohio, assigner to The J. H. Day Company, poration of Ohio ',Cincinnati, Ohio, a cor- Application-July 5', 193s, serial No. z1'z,szs

"9 claims.

category of-agitators, it is to be considered that the use ofthe term agitator throughout this application, is meant to include kindred devices lo such as whips and beaters above referred to.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved means, included preferably in the agitator', for aerating substances undergoing a mixing operation or treatment.

- Another object of the invention is to provide aerating means of the character mentioned,

which will be found convenient and highly efan aerating means which does not interfere with ready placement and displacement of the mixing bowl or receptacle for the mixture, and which w will not interfere with normal usage of the machine in the event that-the air supply means be disabled or rendered inoperative by the operator for any particular reason.

The foregoing an other objects are attained by the means described herein and disclosed in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmental elevational view of a. mixer or beater machine embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2. is a vertical section taken through the agitator sl'ibwn in Fig. 1, showing the outline of the receptacle in broken lines.

l Fig.v 3 is a fragmental elevational view, partly `in cross-section, showing a modified form of agitator vwith the subject matter of the invention applied thereto.

Fig. 4 isl a vertical cross-sectional view similar (c1. zel- 93) The particular type of machine illustrated is immaterial to the present invention,but for the purpose of explanation, it may be stated that the head 6 includes the gearing necessary forV either rotating or oscillating theA agitator shaft 1. The machine may include also a carriage-8 for supportinga mixing bowl or receptacle 9 in position such that the agitator I0 may extend therein toperform the beating or mixing operation. The .carriage may be elevated and lowered by means of a hand wheel I2 or its equivalent. The carriage preferably operates vertically along a rail or track I3 fixed to the front of the machine. Any suitable means, for example, a bayonet slot construction as indicated at I4, may be employed vrfor quick detachment of the agitator from the driving shaft 'I of the machine. As willbe understood, the quick detachable connection may take Various forms since this particular structure is not considered an improvement over existing means for connecting the agitator to the shaft 'I of the machine.

Referring now to Fig. v2,- I5 indicates the agi- Atatonhead which supports the body I6.' 'Ihe body may be formed of a series of wiresas shown in Figs. 1 and 2, or it may be built with a more rigid construction including rods or bars I'I supported upon a rigid frame I8, as illustrated in in Fig. 3. The body of the agitator usually is constructed in accordance with the requirements for the mixing or beating of the' different types 'of substances fed to the receptacle. The head I5 ofthe agitator may be furnished with a central shaft I9 having formed therein a longitudinal bore or passage 20 for the feed of air or other gas into a tube 2l extending downwardly from shaft I9 toward the lower end of the agitator. At the lower en'd of the agitator, the air is released to Athe mixes, preferably through a screen or grille 22 which may be bolted, riveted or otherwise fixed to the end piece 23, as 'indicated at 24. By preference, though not of necessity, the screen orgrille 22 is formed larger than the lower end of the tube 2i and ts over a re- 28. At the uppen face of the-head I5, there may be formed an annular depression or recess 29 which provides a bearing for the air-cap 30.

. This air-cap preferably, is in the form of a'hollow sleeve 3l suitably bushed to the shaft I 9 at the 1ocations 32 and 33, so that the air-cap may ze..

vring 33.

. To accommodate the vertical movement of the tated during the mixing or beating operation.

The longitudinal bore 23 has one or more branches 34 extending. laterally to the interior of the shaft, where it is placed in communication with the hollow interior 35 of sleeve 3|. The sleeve is suitably packed by means of packing washers 36 and other washers 31, to preclude leakage of air along -the exterior ofthe shaft. A hollow ring 33 may beemployed to provide an annular air passageway, fed through the opening 39, so that in all positions of the lateral branch 34. air will be fed to the tube 2| and distributed at the lower end thereof. The hollow'ring 33 preferably is stationary relative to the air-cap housing 3|, and provides a support for the packini; material at either side thereof. As shown,

the hollow interior 43' of ring38 is continuous about theshai't I9, however, by limiting the length of the passage formed'thereby, the chargpassageway 43 extends all the way around shaft I9 to the location yof the ,aperture or bore 39 which provides for entry oi' air under pressure from the space 35 to the hollow interior 43 of bowl on receptacle 9 relative to the agitator structure, the air supply may be directed to the air-cap through an upstanding hollow neck 4 I, to the upper end 42 of which is mounted one member 43 of a coupling providing for quick detach- .ment ofan air line which suppliesthe necessary vhand grasp to manipulate forvdisengaging the couplings at such times as it may be desired to removethe agitator from the driving shaft 1.

It has been found desirable to provide the arrangement shown in Fig. 1wherein the air supply hose 43 is .of a vflexible character, theremainder being in the form .of a rigid tube 41 capable of being supported along the side of the -machine, whereit rests upon a suitable bracket 48, which bracket may or may not `include a spring clip or the like 49 exerting a clamping action upon a rigid section 41. By means of the construction illustrated, the exible section of the air supply means is kept clear of the agitator and its receptacle, while at the same time the aircap is effectively precluded from any tendency to rotate with the shaft of the agitator. 'Ihe arrangement Lis simple but nevertheless very effectual and convenient. 'Ihe character 53 indicates a motor driven pump unit for supplying the required air under pressure. 'I'he unit may be mounted upon a bracket I'iixed to the frame oi' the machine and a suitable gauge 52 may be supplied, when desired.

In accordance with the disclosure of Fig. 3, the tube I2I which .extends centrally oi the agitator, is arranged to form a structural element of the agitator, as well as a means of supplying air to a replaceable screen or mesh |22 located adjacent to the' lower end of the tube. In the constructionshown in Fig. 3, the agitator proper in'- cludes heavy members I1 and I8 asl compared with the wires of the Fig. 2 agitator, and said members may be welded orotherwise joined together and to the end piece |23 oi' the agitator structure. A clamping ring |24 may serve as a means of holding the screen or mesh I 22 in place. The upper end of the Fig. 3 agitator may be constructed as disclosed in Fig. 2.

In Fig-4 is illustrated the same type of aircap 3| as was described in connection with Figs. 1 and 2, but a different arrangement of distributor has been attached thereto. In accordance with Fig. 4, the lower end'of the bore 23 is threaded as at 53 to receive a pipe coupling 54, there being supported by said coupling a length of tubing 55 bent upon itself to provide a U. Approximately midway between the ends of the tube 55, and where the tube extends to the lower end of the agitator, a series of perforations 53 may be furnished for the release of air under pressure. into the mix near the lower end of the agitator. 'Ihe upwardly directed leg 51 of the Ufshaped'tube may be iixed to an extension 53 of the agitator headL I5, and for this purpose it is convenient to use a second coupling member or nipple 59 which may be mounted'in a blind threaded hole 53 formed in the extension 55. It is immaterial whether or' not the'lowerconnecting portion of the U-shaped tube is ilxed to the lower end of the agitator. If the tube is made suiciently rigid, fixation in the region of the apertures 58 is unnecessary. Also, the particular Cshape of the apertures 55 is of no material consequence. It will readily be observed that removal and replacement of tubes such as 55 readily may be effected by simply reaching into the cage formed by the wires or rods II3, and unscrewing the coupling members 54 and 59,so that l'the entire assembly may be withdrawn through the spaces between the wires indicated at Ilot Except for the advantage of structural strength in supplying the coupling 59 for supporting the upstanding arm 51 of the tube 55, it is immaterial whether the tube be terminated and capped close to the series of openings at a location such as 3|. Moreoven, the leg of the'tube which extends downwardly from the coupling 54 may be aligned with the bore 23 of shaft I9, and furnished with a hollow distributor head to take the place oi the apertures,53,\which head may be fixed to the agitator, or not, as desired. Various other modifications and changes may be made in the structural details of the device, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is: f'

1. In combination, an agitator drive member, and an agitator including means for removably mounting the agitator upon said drive member, said agitator comprising a head and an end piece in spaced apart relationship, said head including a longitudinally bored upstanding stud detachably. xed to the head and having a laterally extended branch bore, an air cap .rotatably mounted upon the agitator head, encircling the upstanding portion of the stud above the agitator head and having a hollow interior communicating with the branch bore, a pump operative under conditions of movement and of rest of the agitator, for feeding a gaseous medium under pressure to the air cap interior, and tubular means inv communication with the lbore of the ystud for conveying said gaseous medium from the air cap to the vicinity of the end piece, where the gaseous medium is exhausted.

, 2. In a rotatingagitator, the combination of a l head and a body having a lower end, a hollow of, a hollow air cap rotatably mounted upon said disposed stud and comprising 'bearing surfac V providing at opposite sides of the transverse bo l for rotation of the stud within the bearingsur- 'faces of the cap, means for delivering air under pressureto the interior of the cap, and a tube extending from the hollow stud to the lower end of the agitator body for-conveying the air under pressure to said lower end.

3. In a rotating agitator, the combination of a head and a body having a lower end, a hollow stud upstanding on the head'of the agitator and including av transverse bore extending from the hollow interior of the stud to the exterior thereof, a hollow air cap rotatably mounted upon said stud and comprisingl bearing surfaces disposed at opposite sides of the transverse bore providing for rotation of the stud within the bearing surfaces of the cap, air 'supplymeans for delivering air under pressure to the interior of the cap, a tube extending from the hollow stud to the lower end of the agitator body for conveying the air -under pressure to said lower end, said air supply l tator is rotated.

4. In a rotating* agitator, the combination of a head and a body having a lower end, a hollow stud upstanding on the head ofv thev agitator and .including a transverse bore extending from the hollow interior of the. stud to the exterior thereof, a hollow air cap rotatably mounted upon the agitator and comprising bearing surfaces disposed at opposite sides of and confining thetransverse bore to establish air communication between the hollow interior of the stud and the hollow interior ofthe cap, air supply means for deliverying air under pressure to the interior of the cap, a tube extending from the hollow stud to the lower end of the agitator body for conveying the air under pressure to said lower end of the agitator, said air supply means including a rigid tube having a quick-action detachable connection with the air cap, said tube being anchorable remotely from the agitator to preclude rotation of the air cap along with the agitator when the latter, is driven.

5. A machine of the character described, comprising in combination a frame including a standard and an overhanging driving head, a rotatable driving elementon the head, and an agitator dechine for removably supporting the length of rigid tubing while the tubing restrains the air cap against rotation with the agitator.

6. A machine of the character described, comprising in combination a frame including a standard and an overhanging driving head, a rotatable driving element on the head, and an agitator detachably mounted upon said driving element for rotation-therewith, said agitator including a hollow upstanding stud rotatable therewith, and an air delivery tube leading from the interior o'f the stud to a remote portion of the agitator, a hollow air cap/mounted upon the agitator"in loosely encircling relationship to the stud and having its interior'in communication with the hollow interior of the agitator stud, and means for conveying air under pressure to the air cap interior, said means comprising va length of rigid tubing detachably connected to the air cap in fluid communicating relationshipl thereto, and means on-the frame of the machine removably supporting said rigid tubing to preclude rotation of the air cap with the agitator.

7. A machine of the character described, comprising in combination a frame including a'driving head and a rotatable driving shaft, an agitator shaft and means at its upper end for detachably connecting the agitator shaft to the driving shaft for rotation therewith, aerating means on the agitator shaft including an air distributor conduit, and an aircap in fluid communicating relationship thereto,.means mounting said air cap upon the agitator for possible rotational movement relatively thereto, said means precluding longitudinal shifting of the air cap relative to the agitator shaft upon displacement thereof from the driving shaft, and an air supply means detachably connected to the air car? and arranged to arrest rotation .of the air cap with the agitator shaft when the latter is driven.

8. A machine of the character described, comprising in combination a frame including a driving head anda rotatable driving shaft, an agitatorl shaft and means at its upper end for de- `tachably connecting the agitator shaft to the driving shaft for rotation therewith, aerating means on the agitator shaft including an air di'stributor conduit, and an air cap in fluid communicating relationship thereto, means mounting said air cap upon the agitator shaft for 'possible rotational movement relatively thereto, said means. precluding longitudinal shifting of the air cap relative to the agitator shaft upon displacement of the agitator shaft from. the driving shaft, a stop associated with the air cap for normally precluding rotation of the air cap with the rotating agitator shaft, and means for supplying air under. pressure to the air cap and the distributor conduit associated therewith.

9. In a mixing machine, the combination with an agitator drive member, of an agitator including a xed upstanding stud at its upper end and means at said upper end forquick detachament and interchangeability of the stud relative to the drive member, said stud being bored longitudinally and having a lateral branchbore to provide an air passage terminating at the lower end of the stud for directing air toward the lower end of the agitator, an air cap in the form of a sleeve loosely surrounding the stud intermediateI its ends, and communicating with the branch bore of the stud, means for precluding longitudinal shifting movement o f the loosely mounted airl cap upon the stud, means external to the air cap for generating a pressure of air, and including a' quick` detachable connection with the air cap,

- whereby the cap is rendered bodily displaceable along with the agitator upon breaking-the quick detachable connection last mentioned.

.orin MOORES. 

